Crystal Palace vs Chelsea
Selhurst Park, London
Tuesday, 07-07-2020 @8pm
Ref: David Coote
Chelsea have won their last four games against Crystal Palace, including a 2-0 victory in November’s reverse fixtures. Palace have recorded just four victories in 21 previous Premier League matches against the Blues (D2, L15). The Eagles’ first league win under Roy Hodgson was a 2-1 home victory over Chelsea in October 2017.
Crystal Palace boss Roy Hodgson must weigh up whether to recall Cheikhou Kouyate, Scott Dann and James McCarthy after they were rested at Leicester. Injured trio James Tomkins, Jeffrey Schlupp and Martin Kelly are again expected to miss out.
Chelsea are likely to be without N’Golo Kante after he suffered a hamstring injury at the weekend. Fellow midfielder Mateo Kovacic and defender Fikayo Tomori remain on the sidelines.
Palace have lost three consecutive games by an aggregate score of 8-0, having previously managed four straight wins without conceding. The Eagles could fail to score in four successive league matches for the first time under Roy Hodgson. Palace have won just three of their past eight home league fixtures (D2, L3). They have not recorded a draw in 10 league outings (W4, L6). The Eagles are the only side yet to score more than twice in a Premier League game this season. Hodgson’s men have recorded just two league wins this season against teams currently in the top half of the table. Since the restart, ex-Chelsea centre-back Gary Cahill has had more shots on target than any other Palace player, registering three of their seven attempts on goal.
Chelsea have won four of their last five league games, as many victories as they managed in their previous 13 fixtures. The Blues have accrued 27 points in away matches this term, with only Liverpool and Manchester City gaining more. They have scored 33 away goals, the division’s second-highest tally, whereas opponents Palace have netted a league-low 12 home goals. Frank Lampard’s side have kept just one Premier League clean sheet away from home this term. Chelsea have scored two goals or more in nine of their last 10 top-flight fixtures. Willian has scored six goals in his last seven appearances in league and cup. Olivier Giroud has scored four goals in his last seven league games. Ross Barkley has been directly involved in eight goals in his last 10 starts in all competitions, scoring three and assisting five.
Watford vs Norwich City
Vicarage Road, London
Tuesday, 07-07-2020 @8pm
Ref: Anthony Taylor
Watford head coach Nigel Pearson does not have any fresh injury concerns. He remains without long-term injury victims Gerard Deulofeu, Daryl Janmaat and Isaac Success.
Norwich have been dealt a blow after Todd Cantwell was ruled out with a hamstring injury, while Alex Tettey and Kenny McLean are both rated doubtful. The Canaries are already without Christoph Zimmermann, Sam Byram, Grant Hanley and Moritz Leitner due to injury.
In the reverse fixture, on 8 November, Watford recorded their first league victory of the season at the 12th attempt, winning 2-0 at Carrow Road. Watford are looking to complete a league double over Norwich for the first time since beating them twice in the Championship in 2005-06. The Canaries have only lost one of their last four away games against the Hornets in all competitions.
Watford have earned just six points from the last 33 available in the Premier League. They have scored just two goals in four matches since the restart. Their only clean sheet in their last 11 matches in all competitions came against champions Liverpool. But they have only lost twice at home in the league since December. Danny Welbeck is yet to appear on the winning side in 13 Premier League matches since joining the Hornets.
Norwich have lost each of their past six games in all competitions – the worst run suffered by Daniel Farke in his managerial career. The Canaries have lost five successive league matches without scoring. Norwich and Watford have failed to score in more games than any other Premier League sides this season (16 and 15 respectively), with the Canaries also shut-out in a league-high 11 away games. They have scored just six goals in their 16 Premier League away games this season – the fewest scored on the road in a full Premier League campaign is eight, most recently recorded by Derby in 2007-08. The Canaries’ shot conversion rate away from home this season is just 3.5% (six goals from 173 shots).
Arsenal vs Leicester City
Emirates Stadium, London
Tuesday, 07-07-2020 @10:15pm
Ref: Chris Kavangh
Leicester have won three of their last four league games against Arsenal, as many victories as in their previous 36 matches against the Gunners. The Foxes are aiming to win three consecutive league matches against Arsenal for the first time since 1963. Arsenal are unbeaten in 22 home league games against Leicester, winning the last 12. A 13th successive home victory would equal the Gunners’ longest winning streak against a particular opponent in top-flight home matches (set versus Stoke between 1983 and 2018).
Arsenal’s Nicolas Pepe is expected to be back in contention after he missed the win over Wolves because his wife was giving birth. Calum Chambers, Bernd Leno, Pablo Mari and Gabriel Martinelli remain out.
Leicester manager Brendan Rodgers says there are “big doubts” over whether Ben Chilwell and James Maddison will be fit enough to feature. Ayoze Perez was forced off against Crystal Palace with an ankle knock but should be available.
Arsenal have won five and drawn one of their six Premier League games at the Emirates Stadium since defeat by Chelsea in Mikel Arteta’s first home match in charge. They have won three consecutive league games without conceding for the first time since November 2017. Their win over Wolves on Saturday was the Gunners’ first away league victory against a side starting above them in the league table since September 2015, when they won 5-2 at Leicester. Emiliano Martinez has kept a clean sheet in six of his eight Premier League starts for Arsenal, the best ratio of any Gunners keeper with at least five starts in the competition.
The Foxes’ win over Crystal Palace was only their fifth in their last 17 matches in all competitions. The three goals they scored against the Eagles was more than their combined total in their three previous games since the Premier League restart. The Foxes are without an away league win since New Year’s Day. Jamie Vardy has scored nine Premier League goals in his nine starts against Arsenal – only Wayne Rooney (12), Robbie Fowler (10) and Harry Kane (10) have scored more against the Gunners. Kelechi Iheanacho has scored in back-to-back Premier League matches for Leicester after just one in his previous 12 in the competition. Manager Brendan Rodgers is without a win in all six of his away games against Arsenal in all competitions.
The other upcoming Premier League games
Wednesday, 08-07-2020
-Man City vs Newcastle United @8pm
-Sheffield United vs Wolves @8pm
-West Ham United vs Burnley @8pm
-Brighton vs Liverpool @10:15pm
Thursday, 09-07-2020
-AFC Bournemouth vs Tottenham Hotspur @8pm
-Everton vs Southampton @8pm
-Aston Villa vs Man United @10:15pm
Results from the past weekend
Saturday, 04-07-2020
-Norwich City 0-1 Brighton
-Leicester City 2-0 Crystal Palace
-Man United 5-2 Bournemouth
-Wolves 0-2 Arsenal
-Chelsea 3-0 Watford
Sunday, 05-07-2020
-Burnley 1-1 Sheffield United
-Newcastle United 2-2 West Ham United
-Liverpool 2-0 Aston Villa
-Southampton 1-0 Man City
Monday, 06-07-2020
-Tottenham Hotspur 1-0 Everton
